City government · Cowlitz County, WA
Kelso's money: where it comes from and where it goes
In the latest recorded fiscal year (ended December 31, 2021), Kelso took in $34.7 million and spent $30.0 million.
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Where it comes from
What stands out
of Kelso's money comes from sales tax.Most U.S. cities of 10,000 to 50,000 people get none.
City taxes32%
What's in other taxesPublic utility taxes; occupation and business licenses and 6 more
- Public utility taxes$3.6 million
- Occupation and business licenses$1.1 million
- Real estate and stock transfer taxes$270 thousand
- Other licenses$264 thousand
- Motor vehicle licenses$204 thousand
- Other selective sales taxes$194 thousand
- Amusement taxes$67 thousand
- Other taxes not classified elsewhere$7 thousand
Amounts are by Census tax category.
Fees for services43%
What's in fees for servicesSewer; water and 5 more
- Sewer$6.8 million
- Water$4.4 million
- Garbage collection$1.9 million
- Other service charges$1.4 million
- Airport$353 thousand
- Road charges$180 thousand
- Parks and recreation$8 thousand
Amounts are by Census type of charge.
Federal tax money0.2%
Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.
State tax money22%
Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.
County and local tax money1.5%
Money passed on by the county or other local governments.
Fines and other1.0%
Where it goes
What stands out
of Kelso's spending goes to roads, transit and parking.A typical U.S. city of 10,000 to 50,000 people spends 10%.
Spending by category100%
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesSewer systems; water supply and 1 more
- Sewer systems$5.3 million
- Water supply$3.2 million
- Garbage and solid waste$1.8 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways; airports and 1 more
- Roads and highways$8.1 million
- Airports$713 thousand
- Public transit$56 thousand
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; courts and legal services and 3 more
- Police$4.6 million
- Courts and legal services$284 thousand
- Prisons and jails$223 thousand
- Fire protection$171 thousand
- Inspections and regulation$79 thousand
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; finance, tax collection and budgeting and 2 more
- Other and not broken out$1.6 million
- Finance, tax collection and budgeting$1.1 million
- Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$644 thousand
- Government buildings$26 thousand
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
- Parks and recreation$523 thousand
- Libraries$440 thousand
What's in interest on debtInterest on general debt and interest on water supply debt
- Interest on general debt$445 thousand
- Interest on water supply debt$411 thousand
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
- Public health$137 thousand
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
- Natural resources, farming and conservation$18 thousand
Sources and moreWhere these numbers come from and what they cover
City of Kelso. U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments, Finance, individual unit file, fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. The Census record for this government is from the 2022 survey, the newest on file.
What this covers. The money of City of Kelso itself. Other governments that serve the same area (the city, county, school district and state) are separate and not included. Borrowing, transfers between a government's own funds, and pension trust funds are not counted as revenue.